World Malaria Report 2018

19 Nov 2018

Getting the global malaria response back on track

Reductions in malaria cases have stalled after several years of decline globally, according to the World Malaria Report 2018.

For the second consecutive year, the annual report produced by WHO reveals a plateauing in numbers of people affected by malaria: in 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria, compared to 217 million the year before. But in the years prior, the number of people contracting malaria globally had been steadily falling, from 239 million in 2010 to 214 million in 2015.

This year’s report further underscores the challenges of addressing malaria, particularly in high burden countries. The latest report also points to a transition from the “cross-roads” to a path of intensified action, resulting in progress in around half of the malaria-endemic countries, including several high-burden countries. Notably, India, a high-burden country, registered a 24% decrease in disease burden in 2017 compared to 2016. Furthermore, 46 countries that were malaria-endemic in 2000, reported less than 10,000 cases in 2017, with 26 of these reporting less than 100 cases.

Building on these signs of progress, the latest report details a new “High Burden to High Impact Response” aimed to further accelerate much-needed progress against malaria, with a focus on 11 countries (10 on the African continent, plus India) that account for approximately 70% of the global malaria burden. Catalyzed by WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the new response will be driven by countries.

For the WHO press release and further information, visit the WHO website.